ELF

Project Estonian Fund for Nature (ELF) is NGO dedicated to nature conservation. Its mission is to preserve endangered species and their habitats, natural landscapes and natural associations typical of Estonia. ELF has organized yearly nature conservation holidays where volunteers, participants and group managers work together in order to improve the living conditions of a certain species (i.e. natterjack toad, black stork) or maintain semi-natural communities. You can read on http://elfond.ee/en and see photos from volunteering camps of 2019: http://www.talgud.ee/galerii/2019 The aim of this camp is coastal meadow and mire restoration - coastal meadow in Saaremaa (West-Estonia) and mire of Laukasoo (North-Estonia). Coastal meadows are an important habitat for the natterjack toad. Mires are freshwater reservoirs and crucial for carbon fixation. Saaremaa island and the natterjack toad Saaremaa island in West-Estonia is the largest island of Estonia which is famous for its alvars, windmills, The Kaali Meteorite Crater Field, the scenic walks on Panga Cliff and much more. Saaremaa’s only town, Kuressaare, houses a well-preserved castle. We will be staying in the area of Viidumäe Nature Reserve, which is famous for its wild orchids which blossom mainly in May and June. The natterjack toad can be easily recognized by a bright yellow stripe on its back. This amphibian used to be a common species in Estonian coastal meadows. Unfortunately, as the traditional farming and agriculture have changed, many meadows are no longer used for cattle and the open landscapes gradually disappear. The natterjack toad inhabits open meadows that have temporary ponds and no high vegetation. North-Estonia and mire restoration The Lahemaa National Park is located on the northern coast of Estonia and it is considered an important forest conservation area in Europe. The national park comprises scenec bogs, picturesque shorelines and large boulders that have been here since the end of the last ice age. You can also find a number of old majestic mansions here, such as Palmse, Sagadi and Vihula. The Laukasoo mire is located in Lahemaa National Park. The worksite is not accessible via car, which is why we will have to walk 1-2 km to the site, whilst carrying the work equipment (shovels and buckets). We will be digging peat and using the blocks to create a dam on a drainage ditch. Closing of the drainage network is necessary for restoring the water regime of the mire. The work is physically demanding, but doable for people with average physique and stamina.